Why do women cry more than men? While watching 'Into the Wild' with Eva Jinek and Merel Westrik on a vast Mongolian plateau, surrounded by resilient families and fluffy baby goats, the tears flowed freely—not just for them, but for me too. My husband watched with dry eyes, wisely avoiding any jokes. This sparked my curiosity: why do women tend to cry more—and faster—than men?
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Ask the average man why women cry more, and you'll likely hear it's just a 'woman thing'—tied to periods or sentimentality. Men reserve tears for extreme events like death or personal crises. Yet, as someone attuned to emotional documentaries, even I sense there's more to it.
So, what's the real story? Are women truly more emotionally unstable, or is there scientific backing? As a writer exploring human behavior, I've delved into the research.
Not every woman cries often—some rarely do, saving tissues. But many experience heightened emotions during pregnancy or postpartum. Research shows women shed tears more readily than men in movies, books, and life—let's explore why.
Rather than speculate, I turned to the authority: Prof. Ad Vingerhoets, Tilburg University psychologist and author of Tears: Why People Cry. His expertise reveals key reasons women cry more.
Women gravitate toward emotional content—dramas, tearjerkers like The Notebook, or poignant books. Men often avoid these, reducing opportunities for tears. This preference partly explains the difference.
It's not just women's hormones; men's testosterone inhibits crying—the higher the level, the drier the eyes. Women experience intense hormonal shifts during pregnancy or menopause, amplifying emotions beyond routine cycles.
Men's higher testosterone lowers their crying frequency, and societal norms make it taboo—rare at men's gatherings. For women, crying is more accepted socially, lowering the threshold and making it a natural release.
Women reach tears sooner in crises—like a car breakdown or family stress—while men often respond with anger. Gender differences shape reactions, though surprises happen, like staying dry during an emotional film.
Interested in Prof. Vingerhoets' book? Find it here.
